Improvement in cash register and indicator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J, 8v J. RITTY. Cash Register and Indicator.

)'A'ltented Nov. i, 1879.

N.PETERS, PHOTOYLITHDGRAPHER. vlASHtNGTON, D C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. 8v J. RITTY. Cash Register and Indicator.

Ilwen tol/6; Q54 f nted Nov.4,18`i9r E.

l liga.

I I l 6.

N. PETERS. PHOTo-LITHQGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEo JAMES RITTY AND JOHN RITTY, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CASH REGISTER AND INDICATOR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,360, dated November -I, 1879; application tiled March 26, 1879.y

To all who/m 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES RITTY and JOHN RITTY,of Daytoi'i, in the county ot' Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cash Recorders and Indicators; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to an improved cash register and indicator for use by store-keepers and others as a means ot" accurately ascertaining, and at a glance, the total receipts taken in by the employes for any given period ot' timeas a day, for instance.

The machine consists, essentially, ot an inclosed case or frame provided with an indexdial and indicator operated by a system of levers or keys and connected with a series of co-operating disks marked with numbers on their peripheries, a row of which numbers are disclosed by a transverse opening or openings in the case to show at a glance the snm-total of cash receipts. The office ot' the indicator is to show the amount of each payment as received. Connected with the machine is a bell or other sounding device, which is operated whenever any of the keys are moved sntticiently to indicate their respective values, so that, it' the bell or other alarm is not sounded, the customer is awa-re that the amount paid has not been properly recorded by the clerk or salesman. y

The novelty of our invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and mode of operation ofthe various parts composing the machine, as will be herein specitied, and more deiinitely set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1,

VSheet 1, is a plan view of our improved machine with the cover removed. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a side elevation ot' the register'- ing mechanism through the line a' a' ot' Fig. 1. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a side elevation ot' the machine through the line y y otl Fig. l. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a front-elevation view through the line 1 l of Fig. 1'. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a detail view of the indicating mechanism through the line 2 2 of Fig. 3.

Corresponding letters of reference indicate like parts in all the igures.

A represents any suitable frame or inclosed box, in this instance made rectangular, and having at its rear side a bracket, B, located as shown, whereon to rest the registering mechanism.

Pivoted in the rear top portion of the box, upon a transverse shaft or rod, C, are a series ot' adjacent horizontal keys, D, extending to the front end oi" the box, as shown. These keys are provided in the rear with suitable springs E, as indicated, and are provided on their front ends with pressure-buttons F. In the present instance are shown twenty otl these keys, and the buttons are mounted on alternate sets ot' upwardly and downwardly curved connecting-arms Gr, so as to form the buttons into two rows or banks, one above the other, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The buttons inthe upper row, beginning at the left, are, in this instance, numbered, respectively, 5, 15, 25, and and so on progressively to 95, while those in the lower row are numbered in a corresponding series with l() and ending with 100. This arrangement of the buttons is simply for convenience, to bring the keys within as narrow compass as possible.

It desired, the buttons could be arrangedin one straight row by widening or spacing the keys. Beneath and near the pivotal ends of the keys is a diagonal lever-beam, II, suitably pivoted at the right-hand side to the box or case, as at a. Passing through this beam vertically under each of the keys is a series ot' setscrews, b, arranged so as to be adjusted from below, and pivoted to the side ot the beam II near its free end is a second shorter lever, I, with one end pivoted in any suitable way to the side of the case, as at c.

In the trontportion of the ease, extending beneath all of the keys, is a slanting winglever, J, having its ends pivoted in adjustable brackets d attached to the side ot' the case. This lever is supported in its slanting position by a flat curved spring, K, attached to the front end of the box or case, as shown.

Upon the bracket B is a suitable case, L, in which is journaled a horizontal shaft, lII, which projects out over the keys and is iu line with them. Loose upon this shaft, within the case L, are a number of disks, N, each numbered on its periphery 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, S, 9. These disks are so constructed and united that the complete rotation of the first of the series causes the second to turn one-tenth ot' a revolution, and so on through the series. The construction ot` these disks forms no part of our invention, so that we will only explain their functions and connection with the rest of the machine.

Their construction and arrangement are, however, shown in full in the United States Patent to llIcNa-ry, dated May 17. 1870. The iirst disk O of the series is in this instance numbered on its periphery 00, 5, 10, and so on to 95, making in all twenty numbers, corresponding to the numbers on the pressure-buttons. This last disk() is keyed to the shat't M just within the front tace of the case L, so as to rotate with said shaft.

The top of the ease L is provided with openings arranged transversely with relation to the disks, so that but one row of numbers can be seen at a time, as in Fig. l.

Pivoted loosely upon the shat't M at a little distance in front ot' the case L is a pinion, I, attached to each side ot' which are flat disks j and g, an d keyed upon the same sha't't, between the front face of the case L and the disk f, is a sleeve carrying at each end ratchets h and i. The former of these rests against the face of the case L, while the latter is adjacent to the diskj'. Each of these ratchets has as many teeth as there are mnnbers upon the disk O, and engaging with the ratchet t isa pawlj, pivoted to the ease L, and held in contact with the ratchet by a spring, L', as seen in Fig. 1.

Upon the face of the disk j is a pawl, l, which is held in engagement with the ratchet i by a suitable spring, m, Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

It desired, one ratchet may be employed in the place ot' the two, h and t', it made sufficiently wide to accommodate both pawls.

R represents a vertical rack-bar, which we designate as a prime mover,77 located between the disks j" and g, and engaging with the pinion I). This bar is supported by any suitable guide, S, which may be attached to the case L, as represented. The lower end of the rack-bar is connected to the free end of the lever I by a pivoted connecting rod or link, T, which passes down through suitable apertures inthe top of the key-case and the keys. Instead of this rack-bar and pinion, the disks j" and g may constitute a drum, having an internal convolnte or scroll spring, and having wound upon its periphery a cord or chain connected to the free end ot' the lever I, so that the depression ofthe latter will cause the drum to turn as the cord unwinds, and so that when the lever I is raised the internal spring will cause the drum and disks to return to their former positions, and will rewind the cord or chain.

In front of the disk g, upon the shaft M, is loosely fitted a sleeve, p, carrying a ratchet, 0', having the same imm oer et' teeth as the before-described ratchets. This ratchet ris held in engagement with a subjacent spring dog or pawl, t, .piyoted to the front face of a bracket,

c, of any proper construct-ion, which maybe attached to the case L or to the bracket B. Conveniently attached to this pawl t, near its engaging end, is a vertical connecting-rod, A', which, passing down through the key-case top and keys, has its lower end slotted to receive a stud or piutle attached to the end ot' an arm, B, which is secured tothe win g-lever J in any suitable manner, so that by pressing upon the tree end or edge ofthe wing the rod A is depressed and the pawl disengaged from the ratchet. Upon removing the pressure, the spring upon the pawl causes its engagement with the ratchet.

Supported in any suitable manner upon the casing isa stationary vertical dial, (Y, arranged at right angles and eoneentrically with the shaft ill, which projects through its eye. This dial is numbered to correspond with the numbers on the disk O, and in this instance has the dollar-mark (S) in place of the cipher. Just in front of this dial and upon the i'ront end ot' the sleeve p is fastened adjustably, but so as to move with said sleeve, an indexhand, D', which, as each key is pressed, points to a number on the dial corresponding in value to that upon the key pressed.

Instead of an index-hand, a second movable dial-disk may be attached to the sleeve Ip in the same manner as the hand, and having an opening through it, which discloses any one ofthe nmnbers on the dial C.

Upon the front face ot' the disk g is a stud or detent, a', situated about half-way between the center and the periphery. Just over this detent, and forming part ot' it, it desired, is a second stud, projecting from the face ot the disk, and having secured to its end a .ilat convolute spring, bf, whose inner end is attached to the sleeve pjust behind the ratchet fr, as indicated; and to the inner' end ofthe sleeve j) is attached a projecting wing or arm, c', Figs. 2 and 5, which comes in contact with the detent a.

Attached to the bracket c in any suitable way is a spiral spring, d', which passes down through the casing and keys, and has its lower end connected to the free end ot the lever I.

IVithin and attached to one side of the keycase is a bell or gong, F', having any suitable spring-striker, Gr', which is operated by an arm or connecting piece, I, attached to the wing J, so that by pressing upon the latter in the operation ot' the machine the bell is sounded.

The registering mechanism is incloscd in any proper case, which can only be opened by the proprietor to examine the amount registered, so that the only exposed and visible portions ot' the mechanism are the buttons, the dial, and the indicator.

Supposing the machine to be properly adj usted, with the visible numbers ot' the disks N and O set at nought, (0,) its operation is as follows: A customer, for instance, makes a purchase amounting to titty cents, and pays for the same. button marked 50, and as the key is depressed The clerk then presses upon the' it comes lirst in contact with the subjaeent setscrew b in the lever H, and presses down the latter. This depression of thelever H imparts a corresponding motion to the leverI, the connecting-rod'T, andthe rack lt. The last, aet- .ing on the pinion P, rotates the disks/'and g.

The detent a on the disk g, as it turns, comes in contact with the wing e, and thus imparts motion to the ratchet fr and index-hand Df, which turns with said disk. At the Sametime the dog` or pawl upon the disk j' carries with it the 1atchets /1/ and t, and also the shatt M, to which they are secured. The shaft M as it turns carries with it the disk O. The parts are so adjusted that when the key has reached its lowest point et' depression the disk O will have turned sufficientlyv to bring the iigure 5() initier the opening in the case L, and the in dex-hand will have moved so as to pointto the iigure 50 on thedial. The wingJ is so adjusted with relation to the keys that the latter do not move it until they have just about eempleted their depression. Consequently the bell is not sounded unless the keys are pressed down to their fullest extent, as far as they will go. As soon as the wing J is moved by the keys the pawl t is drawn out ot' engagement with the ratchet i', though the latter is held from reverting by the detent a.

Now, in the above illustration of the working ot' the machine, as soon as the key 50 is released the pawl tinstantly re-engages the ratchet r, and holds it and its connections from moving back to their former positions. At the same time the pawl jcatchet` the ratchet h, and thus holds the disk 0 from turning back; but the spiral spring d', by contracting, draws up the levers H aild l to their former positions, and these latter, acting ou the rack, cause it to ascend and restore the disks j" and q and their attachments to their original posi4 tions. The amount paid is thus permanently registered by the disk O, and is indicated by the index-hand on the dial in view of the customcr.

Should seventy tive cents be the next amount to be registered, the corresponding key-that is, the one marked 'T5-is pressed, andthe same operation ofthe parts is repeated, and the index-hand remains stationary until the detent d comes in contact. with the wing c', and carries it and the ratchet around until the hand points to 75 on the dial. Now, while the hand has only moved from 50 to 75, yet

the recording-disk O has traveled three-quarters ot a revolution. This brings the ligure 25 on the disk O under the readingopening, and, as the disk O has thus made one entire revolution, the adjacent disk of the series N is turned one-tenth, and the tigure l on its periphery is brought inview linder the readingopening. The reading ot' the register will then show that one dollar and twenty-five cents have been received,this amount being the sinn of the lfty and the seven tty-live cents supposed to have been paid in. 1t is to be noted that in this instance the disk 0 records the cents,

while the disks N record dollars, the onenext adjacent to the disk O representing units, the next farther ott' teils. the next hundreds, and so on.

Te will now suppose the next payment to be live (5) cents. the index-hand pointing to 75, where it was let't by thelast payment. The key numbered 5 is pressed down, and only moves the rack enough to cause the disk O to make one-twentieth of a revolution; but it moves the wing` J and disengages the pawl t trom the ratchet r. As soon as the ratchet is released the convolute spring I1 (which had been contracted when the disk g returned to the starting-point) is also released, and, expanding, throws the hand instantly back until the wing c comes in contact with the detenta', and then stops. Upon releasing the key the parts are locked as bei'ore, and the machinel is always ready set.

The most essential Feature ot' our invention is the employment of the'convolute spring, which we designate as a prime mover, tor giving a reverse motion to the indicator and the wing c, in connection with the detent a and the ratchet i', whereby, through the medium ot the ratchet and its pawl, the hand is held at the proper indicating-ponit, and. whereby, through the medium ot' the spring and the detents d c', the hand is given a reverse motion whenever a key of a less denomination is pressed at'ter one ot' a higher denomination; for, in the vay before explained` it ten cents is indicated on the. dial and it is desired to register tive cents, it is not necessary l'or the indicator to travel all around the dial to pointto live cents, but it simply iiies back one division upon the pressing ot' the proper key.

This motion of the indicator is always true whenever a key ot less denomination is recorded after one ot a higher.

Another l'eature to be noted is that vthe point ot' stoppage ot' the detent c regulates that of the hand, and is itself regulated by thc key which is pressed.

Vhen, at the close et' business hours, it is desired, at'ter ascertaining the whole amount ot` cash received during the day, to reset the machine and start at'resh with the recordingdisks in such position as to indicate that no cash has yet been taken in or is on hand, this is done as follows: Adjustably secured to the top ot the case L is the slide c', located as shown, so that when moved forward its end will extend over and in contact with the free ends otl the dogs Z and j. All that is necessary to turn'the disks N and O back again to the zero or nought (d) points and reset themachine is to slide forward this piece c until it passes over the ends ofthe dogs Zandj. This will raise the other ends of said dogs and disengage them from the ratchets h and z'. The shat't M can then (by means of a crank or other convenient device at either end) be turned freely backward. This will cause the disks O and N to rotate in the same direction, and such rotation can be kept up unt-il the zeropoint on each disk is reached. The slide e can then be moved back, the dogs l and j allowed again to engage with their ratchets, and the machine is ready to start again. Ot' course I this slide is not essential at all.

The dogs l and j can be disengaged/by simply pressing down their free ends with the linger. The shaft M cannot, however, be rcvolved backward except these dogs are so disengaged. Consequently the machine cannot be reset without unclosing and exposing the case L.

B y this construction and arrangement of the parts we produce an accurate and reliable machine, which will not only indicate the amount of each payment as it is made, but will keep a true record of the sum of all the payments, which can be read at a glance without the trouble of adding them. up.

We are aware tha-t it is not new in registers to use recording-disks, dials, bells; or keys; and consequently we make no claim, in its broad sense, to the application ot' such independent devices to a register; but

That we claim is as follows:

1. In a registering and indicating machine, the combination, with a series of keys, ot an index dial and indicator, with connecting mechanism, whereby, upon moving any one ot' the keys to its farthest limit, an indicator points to or discloses a number on the dial corresponding in value to that of the key operated, and whereby, upon operating a key of lower denomination at'ter one ot' a higher denomination, a reverse motion is imparted to the indicator, as set forth.

2. In a registering and indicating machine,

the combination, with registering niechanism i and a series ot' keys, ot' an index-dial and indicator with connecting' mechanism, whereby, upon successively operating the same key, the indicator remains stationary, while the registering mechanism registers the value of the key each time it is operated.

3. In a cash register and indicator, the combination ot' the operating-rack K or its equivalent, the stud or detent a', actuated thereby, the wing or arm c', connected to the index so as to move therewith, and the convolute spring b', connecting said wing and de' tent, or their attachments, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the shaft M, to which are attached the register mechanism and indicator, of the loose concentric disks fand g, connected on the one side to the registering mechanism by ratchets and pawls, and on the other to the indicator by a detent and a spring, whereby motion is imparted to both the registering and the indicating devices, as set forth.

5. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the disksf and g and their attachments, the sleeved ratchet r and its attachments, ot' the spring-pawl t, connected to the wing J, as and t'or the purpose speci'iied.

(i. In a cash register and indicator, the combination, with the indicator-ratchet i', its pawl t, and a series of operati1igkeys,of an adjustable wing lever, J, extending beneath and across the keys, and so arranged as to be operated to release the pawl ti'rom the ratchetfr, only when any of the keys has reached its farthest limit of depression, as set forth.

7. In a registering and indicating machine, the combination with registering and indicating mechanisms and aseries ot' keys, each rep' resenting a fixed value, ol" two prime movers connected to said recording and indicating mechanisms, and connected to each other by a stop or detent, with intermediate mechanism, in such a manner that in operating any key ot' the series the position ot said stop or detent, just before the release of the key, determines the position otl the index-hand or indicator, as set t'orth.

Witness our hands this 17th day of March, A. I). 1579.

JAMES ItlT'lY. JOHN RIT'IY.

Witnesses:

PATRICK H. GUNCKEL, Unas. M. IEeK. 

